Originally Posted by seely
I figured it out once, and the actually difference between a 170mm crank and a 175mm crank is something miniscule like .4"... I don't think it really makes as big a difference as some might lead you to believe. As for cornering clearance, if you are going hard into a corner, your inside leg is probably up anyways, so it doesn't really matter if you have 167's or 180's... they won't strike.
I can honestly say there is a huge difference between 170mm cranks and 165mm cranks for me. I'm 5'1 and with the 170's I can't seem to get a smooth cadence and climbs seem jerky yet with 165s I have no problems with climbs or cadence. Of course, it's amazing how hard it is to get components for the small end of the spectrum, it seems like they only cater to the tall people.
